Agfa APX films rebranded as Rollei Retro

J J Kapsberger

J J Kapsberger

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Anyone who's used these films, how do they compare with the Agfa stuff? Would I notice a difference between Rollei Retro 100 and APX100? How does Rollei PAN 25 compare with APX25?
 
I was wondering the same thing, D. I see that Freestyle has the Rollei Retro 100 in bulk only, no rolls. And whatever happened to APX100 and the other Agfa films?
 
I use Agfa apx400, and I bought up a lot of it last year. My understanding is that there is still some branded Agfa out there, and that it would be from the final production mother reels of Agfa film production, which Rollei bought up. However it is not clear to me whether the SAME film has been simply rebranded as Rollei or whether in fact it is a new formulation based on the original formula. Freestyle also has a brand called Arista or Artista can't recall which, that the store people here in LA say is THEIR version of Agfa APX.

Search the archive here. There was a long thread on this not so long ago.
 
Agfa APX 100 can still be bought in bulk 100ft rolls online, expiration date 2011. Rollei Retro 100 is APX 100. The folks who bought the original Agfa plant machinery (http://www.fotoimpex.de/) are now making Agfa MCP papers and are planning to start the film plant up once the "old" Agfapan 100 is all sold and through the channel. I seem to recall that they will be selling the film under the Adox brand (http://www.adox.de/english/) and may be thinking about phasing out their CHS films.
 
I bought some Arista-II 400 film from Freestyle in July (2008), and as far as I can tell, this is the old Agfapan APX 400.

Processing is nearly identical to APX400, although with Rodinal, I used the Rodinal suggested agitation routine, rather than what was recommended on the box.

When I dumped the developer, it had the familiar purple hue. Edge markings don't carry the Agfa name but don't carry the Arista name either.

Like APX400, this is a very nice film with rich grain and wonderful Agfa tones.

Freestyle currently has this on sale in blocks for 20 (24 exp. rolls) for $24.95. I bought three blocks and might buy some more.
 
It IS APX100, MACO bought all the stock they had and rebranded it Rollei Retro, just as SIlverfast (and maybe others) did before
 
Rollei/Maco bought the whole raw production 2005 APX 100/400 (new) 135 micron 35mm material from Agfa Photo when they went in bankruptcy.
From these master rolls 35mm, bulk (30,5m) and 120 roll film has been made. The original 120 rolfilm APX was 100 micron.

Rollei PAN 25 has been made by Filmotec. It's a NP15 OrWo improved emulsion sold under the Rollei brand.

Some older stock APX400 (old), production before 2004, went to the Efke factory in Croatia. It has been sold under Efke 400.

Foma bought the raw fiber material for the MCC Agfa paper production in 2005 from Agfa Photo in bankruptcy. From this nice fiber base material they made their new Fomabrom variant paper. The base material was comming from Schöller, Osnabrück, Germany.

When a big factory is dieing, it's possible to get materials for a very low price, what also happened with Agfa Photo. 600 million Euros were gone.......
 
The only difference you will notice is that the 120 rolls are cut from the master rolls usually dedicated to 35mm film. 35mm film has a greyish base to combat halation, something that is not necessary with 120.

Retro 100 = APX 100; Retro 400 = APX 400. It's the same good old stuff. Rollei Pan has nothing to do with the APX films.
 
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